Source :The Hindu Date : 06.07.2009

Rs. 1,411 cr. for development of urban areas in State

Jeevan Chinnappa

Madikeri: A programme to develop 20 headquarters of the urban local bodies and 199 taluk-headquarters and other town panchayats, with a budget of Rs. 1,411 crore, has been drawn up by the Government.

The Government approved the programme, to be implemented under the Chief Minister’s Small and Medium Towns Development Project, with an order on June 24. The break-up of the budget is Rs. 600 crore for the development of district headquarters for two years; and Rs. 715 crore for taluk headquarters; and Rs. 96 crore for the development of other towns to be implemented in one year.

Each of the 20 urban local bodies in district headquarters, including the Madikeri City Municipal Council, will get Rs. 15 crore each in 2009-10 and 2010-11 to take up development projects.

Similarly, 143 urban local bodies in taluk headquarters, will be given Rs. five crore each to implement the projects. The Kodagu, Somwarpet and Virajpet Town Panchayats will come under this category. As many as 48 other urban local bodies would be given Rs. two crore each. The Kushalnagar Town Panchayat will fall under this category. The order says that the projects that could be implemented under the scheme are drinking water supply, drainage, solid waste management, roads and footpaths, facilities in slums and maintenance of streetlights. At least 20 per cent of the sum should be spent on the welfare of the poor. Funds for construction of roads and footpaths should not exceed 50 per cent of the grant.

The GO says that the Department of Urban Development is in charge of the implementation of the programmes. Implemented projects will be subjected to third-party inspection to prevent sub-standard work.